Selections

Happy Release

“Happy Release.” On May 14th 1945 Donald Journeaux presented an entertainment extravaganza at the Forum. In our German Occupation collection is a programme signed by the cast. In his book “Raise the White Flag” Donald tells us:-

“The day of the opening performance of our Liberation revue, ‘Happy Release’, was fraught with difficulty….. The fact that we had only been able to have one run-through on stage was really quite a worry.... it needed speeding up because of lack of stage rehearsals, but the following performances met my expectations. The red, white & blue fabric which had been saved since the beginning of the Occupation was very much in evidence in the costumes representing the Allied Forces….. The very patriotic British finale was highlighted by the singing of “Rose of England”, the final speech from Noel Coward’s ‘Cavalcade’ and the emotional rendition of the National Anthem, being sung on stage for the first time in five years. The applause was stupendous. During the entire week of performances we received masses of compliments, including words of congratulation from the manager of the Ivor Novello musicals and war correspondent H.C. Shephard, as well as people I did not know including various members of the Forces… Later on we were very happy to hand over the sizeable profits to the British Red Cross…. Everyone was happy and enjoyed it all, but for Irene [my wife] and myself it was also a little sad. We had lived through this Occupation with a closeness to all these young people, but now it was over. We would soon have to say goodbye and turn the page to the next chapter.”

From humble beginnings as a farmer, and member of the Green Room Club, Donald Journeaux left the island to follow a career in choreography for television musicals, and dancing in London. He then went to Hollywood to star in a number of TV series including “The Twilight Zone” (1959), “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”(1965), “Mission: Impossible” (1966), and also played the role of a witch in film “the Brotherhood of Satan”(1971). He died in London in 1997 aged 87.

He is the author of a book “Raise the White Flag – a life in occupied Jersey”.

Latest Selections

St Valentine's Day

Feb 9, 2017

The tradition of sending often anonymous cards for St Valentine's Day became popular in Victorian times, and the Lord Coutanche Library holds around 20 cards in the collection.

International Archives Day 2016

Jun 6, 2016

To celebrate International Archives Day 2016, we have selected an item from the German Occupation collection which illustrates the theme of the event “Archives, Harmony and Friendship”. 1940 -1945 in Jersey was a time of suffering and hardship, but also a period where courage and friendship were demonstrated, and thanks for good deeds were documented. Peter Bokatenko, a young man from Ukraine who was dragged across Europe to Jersey by his German captors, and having escaped from the German authorities as a prisoner of war, found safety and help from a number of Jersey families. He survived thanks to their kindness, particularly that of the local artist Edmund Blampied, who counterfeited seals on an identity card for him, On his return to Russia, Bokatenko sent some very touching messages of thanks to the people who helped him.

Experiments in telepathy

Nov 20, 2015

These unusual drawings were the result of an experiment in telepathy. The notebook from which they came was owned by Joseph Sinel (1844 – 1929). The subject of the experiments was Elfleda, the only child of his friend Samuel Dancaster. She was around 11 years of age at the time. Sinel drew a picture, and Elfleda drew what she thought he was thinking. The two pictures were often remarkably similar. As a scientist Sinel concluded that this was not supernatural but was an ability that humans had lost in the process of evolution.

Cider making

Nov 4, 2015

The tradition of cider making in Jersey has a very long history, and apart from being a popular local beverage in the 16th century, it was also, by the mid-19th century one of the island’s major exports and part of Jersey’s rich agricultural heritage.